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McSally, who’s seeking the Republican nomination to replace retiring Arizona Sen. Jeff Flake, was smart enough to skirt endorsing Trump, but she was critical of him during the 2016 presidential campaign, calling his comments on the "Access Hollywood" tape “disgusting."

The southern Arizona congresswoman knows she isn’t off the hook. It explains her overnight transformation from a rather moderate to an immigration hardliner and build-the-wall kind of gal.

But if Alabama’s 2nd Congressional District is any indication, Trump voters may not overlook that earlier slight. And enough of them may be stubbornly vengeful to make McSally’s nomination vulnerable.

Her rivals, hardcore conservatives and Trump loyalists Kelli Ward and Joe Arpaio, aren’t missing a beat either, reminding voters of their faithfulness to the president and of McSally’s flip-flopping.

Ward posted this tweet Thursday, referring to a CNN report that McSally removed a YouTube video showcasing her defense of the Obama-era Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program or DACA:

If McSally wins, she'll emerge bruised

Ward, a former state senator, has a large number of social media followers. She delights them with pro-Trump rants and the need to send a “true conservative” to the Senate to protect the president’s Make America Great Again agenda.

Arpaio, another right-wing favorite, has generated less enthusiasm in his Senate bid, in part because of his legal battles that have cost Maricopa County tens of millions of taxpayer dollars.

But the former sheriff still is a contender for Trump voters because of his affinity with the president who pardoned him.

In early May, McSally scored big by snatching the support of former Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer, another staunch Trump supporter.

Brewer’s endorsement should help McSally smooth her way with some Trump loyalists. But it's still not enough, given she’s the frontrunner and the main target of other challengers.

McSally is portraying an extreme right-wing isolationist like Trump in her attempt to seal the Aug. 28 primary. But she might not emerge victorious without Trump's endorsement.